Peppermint: getting you through finals and into the holiday spirit

It seems as if every student on campus is doning sweats and overloaded backpacks— a clear indication that finals week has arrived. We're officially entering the second week of December, in which stressful exams are juxtaposed by the care-free and light air of the holiday season. With these coinciding events taking place, peppermint seemed to be the perfect super-food to write about for today's post!

When I think of Christmas, one of the first things that come to mind is peppermint. Between the candy canes, peppermint bark, and Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha making its annual reappearance, there's no escaping the cooling herb throughout December. And why would anyone want to? I personally love the constant reminder of the holiday season, and I'm especially keen on peppermint's function as a medicinal herb. Asides from giving sweets and treats a distinct, Christmassy flavor, peppermint can help to relieve you of ailments typical of finals week. Whether it's a lack of concentration, headache, or a nervous stomach, peppermint has got you covered.

Peppermint's aroma has shown to heighten memory and alertness (which may keep you from passing out on your textbooks) and by massaging peppermint oil onto your temples and forehead, it may rid of tension headaches brought on by hours of studying. For those who experience a nervous stomach due to test anxiety, multiple studies have shown peppermint to be an effective remedy for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) symptoms, including bloating, gas, and acid reflux; drinking a cup of peppermint tea or taking a peppermint supplement could help mitigate these feelings of discomfort.

If you happen to eat out this week, be sure to grab a few peppermint candies from the hostess stand before heading out the door. That, or consider picking up some peppermint tea or oil. They might come in handy when you go to hit the books!

P.S. ~
Being a student myself, I'll be taking next week off from the blog to focus on my studies. Be sure to check back in the following Tuesday, December 17th!